Belfast jewellers benefit from Game of Thrones phenomenon

Jewellery retailers in Belfast have benefited from the city being home to the studios where Game of Thrones is shot.

The TV phenomenon has attracted avid fans who travel to Northern Ireland to take various Game of Thrones tours and see anything and everything related to the show.

This has resulted in a boost in business for jewellery retailers benefiting from fans exploring the city.

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Most notably, The Steensons has had an influx of ‘Thronies’ visit the store since the show began as the independent jewellery retailer has created crowns, brooches and pendants for the programme.

The Steensons, which started as a wholesale business but now focuses on its two retail stores in Belfast and Glenarm, stocks its own jewellery alongside other designers.

In Glenarm, the retailer has had a lots of trade as Game of Thrones fans have popped into the store to visit the workshop. However, noticing that footfall was increasing but sales were not rising, The Steensons got the licence for a collection based on the show and now both stores enjoy visits from consumers looking to purchase pieces from this range.

Director, Brona Steenson, explains: “We did a lot of work for Games of Thrones so we get ‘Thronies’ visiting us and visiting the workshops. We made a lot of the crowns foe the series and brooches and pendant and because of that we then started getting a lot of visitors. So we did actually approach HBO and we got a licence for a collection based on it because the Thronies were so big into it, but they would spend two hours talking to you about it and then walk out the door without looking at the other stuff. The production company has been very good, loads of businesses have benefitted from them.”

Lunn’s Jewellers managing director John Lunn also mentioned the show as a positive for business in the city.

“Belfast is a great city,” Lunn explains. “We’ve seen the influx of people coming over the last few years. Not just for events, but for weekends away, things like Games of Thrones helps the publicity of the country. We’ve also got the Titanic, which is the number one tourist attraction in the world, as voted for last year, so Belfast has so much to offer. We could never be so proud to be part of the city because of what’s going on.”